Frederick la forest



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TRACK FAS (Applicatio No. 6l7,03l.

(No Model.)

lrventor 1 1g Attorneys Witnesses: WWW? (Q) I I H% FREDERICK LA FOREST,OF EDMUNSTON, CANADA.

TRACK-FASTENING DEVICE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 617,031, dated January3, 189 9. Application filed November 6 1897. Serial No. 658,108. (Nomodel.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, FREDERICK LA FOREST, a citizen of the Dominion ofCanada, residing at Edmunston, in the county of Madawaska, Province ofNew Brunswick, Canada, have invented certain new and useful Improvementsin Track-Fastening Devices, of which the following is a full, clear, andexact description, which will enable others skilled in the art to whichit appertains to make and use the same.

My invention relates to improvements in railways, and has particularrelation to trackfastening devices.

The objects of my invention are to provide a device of this character inwhich the rail after having been spiked to the tie will be held inposition and prevented from becoming loosened by the action of thetrains passing over the rails.

A further object is to provide a device in which the tie will bepreserved from the cutting effects of the pressing down of the rail.

A further object is to protect the spikehead and prevent its beingworked loose.

A further object is to provide a device which will be neat andattractive in appearance, durable in its construction, and which can bemade at a nominal cost.

To these ends my invention consists in the improved construction andcombination of parts, as more fully described, and particularly pointedout in the claims.

In the drawings, in which similar letters of reference indicate similarparts in both views, Figure 1 is a perspective view of my device. Fig. 2is a sectional view of a rail and tie, showing my devices in theposition occupied when in use.

In the present construction of railways, in which the rails are spikedto the tie, it has been found that after the rails have been laid and inuse for some time the continual passing of trains over the rail has hadthe effect of forcing the rail into the tie and cutting it, thusloosening the spikes holding the rail to such an extent that the railitself becomes affected by it. A number of devices have been proposed toovercome this disadvantage; but none of them have been able tosuccessfully cope with the jarring effect of the passing trains, and itis to overcome this difficulty that the present device has beenprovided.

In the drawings, A represents the rail.

13 represents a tie to which the rail A has been attached by the spikesb b.

O designates my improved device, which consists of a head 0, havingflanges c 0 extending therefrom rearwardly. A top 0 also extendingrearwardly and formed with the flanges c c, is connected integrally withthe head 0. The flanges c c and top 0 may be made as shown in thedrawings, where they are shown as extending to the edge of the rail, orthey may be made to conform to the shape of the rail, in which case theywill surround the spike on all sides and top, with the exception of theside nearest the rail, while if constructed as shown in the drawingsthey surround the spike on the same sides and partially on its top, thedifference in construction being the distance which the top 0 extendsover the head of the spike. Either form will perform the same duties,and no preference is made as to which form might be used.

Extending rearwardly from the flanges c c are plates 0 0 to the underside of which are affixed or formed suitable holding projections 0formed as shown in the drawings, or which may be formed by placingsuitable serrations or teeth at intervals on the under side of theplates made by punching out the metal form= ing the plates, it beingessential that the face of the tooth extend toward the head 0. As shown,the plates have their rear ends formed to allow of the placing of theplates under the rail.

As shown in the drawings, the plates 0 extend under the rail asufficient distance to have the plates form practically a wearingplatefor the rail. While I have shown these plates as extending for a portionof the dis tance yet I do not limit myself to this construction, but mayextend them a sufficient distance across the rail, as may be foundnecessary, in order that a sufficient wearing-surface will be formed toprevent the rails cutting into the tie, this being one of the principalfeatures of the invention, as hereinbefore set forth.

lVhile I have shown the bevel as extending but a part of the length ofthe plates, it is to be understood that the same may extend the entirelength, if desired.

After laying and spiking the rail, to attach my device the plates 0 areplaced 011 the sides of the spike and driven under the rail by a hammeruntil the inner face of the head 0 abuts against the spike. Theprojections 0 owing to their form, will offer no resistance to thedriving of the plates beneath the rail, but will operate to preventtheir easy withdrawal. It is obvious that the spike cannot be withdrawnby any means unless the device here shown is intentionally drawn out orbroken or mutilated, and it will be readily understood that the spikecannot be worked loose by the passing of trains over the rails, the factbeing that the passing of trains will have the effect of forcing thespike deeper into the tie by reason of the pressing downward of the top0 While I have shown the plates 0 c as provided with holding projections0 yetI do not limit myself to such construction, but may make the plateswithout any holding projections, depending upon the Weight of the railupon the plates to hold them in place and, if found necessary, thedriving of a small spike in front of the head 0 to prevent the devicefrom being forced outward.

It will thus be seen that the device herein described will form aneiiicient track-fastening, one that will be durable and which can bemanufactured at a nominal cost.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is 1. Thecombination with a tie; a rail; and spikes for holding said rail to saidtie; of a spike protector and securer for each spike adapted to bedriven under the rail, comprising a head, having a top and side flangesextending rearwardly therefrom; and substantially thin horizontalplates, having a toothed under surface, extending rearwardly from saidflanges, said plates being adapted to be driven between said tie andsaid rail, substantially as described.

2. The combination with a tie 5 a rail; and spikes for holding said railto said tie; of a spike protector and securer for each spike, comprisinga head, having a top and side flanges extending rearwardly therefrom;and substantially thin horizontal plates, having a toothed undersurface, extending rearwardly from said flanges a distance equal to atleast half the width of said rail, said plates being adapted to bedriven between said tie and said rail, substantially as described.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in presence of twowitnesses.

FREDERICK LA FOREST.

Witnesses:

ALPHONSINE BABIN, AARON LAWSON.

